The MoneyMuseum of Zurich, Switzerland, is selling pieces from its collection to help finance a new project. It plans to broadcast online educational podcasts through iTunes University.

The museum plans to present a series of both short and more comprehensive podcasts on coins, economic history, banks and stock markets. These podcasts will also touch on themes such as alternatives to the current prevailing monetary system and the future of money. Podcasts featuring numismatic content will also regularly be available for download.

In order to make the project a reality, Dr. Jürg Conzett, founder of the Sunflower Foundation and director of the MoneyMuseum, has decided to auction off a small but valuable portion of the museum’s own collection. The pieces consist mostly of Greek coins whose selection is owed not just to Conzett, but also to Leo Mildenberg, a widely known numismatist and coin dealer who oversaw the MoneyMuseum’s coin collection until his death in 2001.

Some examples from the collection include what may be considered finest known specimens, as is the case with the tetradrachm from Catane, purchased at Bank Leu 71 in 1997. The same is true for a tetradrachm from Leontini, acquired in 1997 at the first auction of the newly formed New York firm, Triton.

Highlighting the offerings are three coins from Syracuse: A tetradrachm of the Demareteion series, Extremely Fine, wonderfully struck and centered; a dekadrachm signed by Euainetos, whose obverse displays none of the usual traces of rust from the die; and a tetradrachm featuring the rare design of Arethusa, the hair gathered under a folded hood.

Also of note is the Zeus head on the stater of Elis, purchased at Sotheby’s in 1998. It has featured in both the Lambros collection as well as that of Sir H. Weber and R. Jameson.

International auction house Numismatica Ars Classica will act as partner for the sales. The ancient coins will go up for auction May 16-17 in Zurich. The Italian coins will be offered in a fall sale. For more details, visit www.arsclassicacoins.com.

Additional information about the MoneyMuseum and its complete collection can be found at www.moneymuseum.com.